Patents by Inventor Kevin Houser

Kevin Houser has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230262856
    Abstract: A method of increasing the color gamut of a multi-emitter light emitting device when dimming includes the steps of independently driving each emitter in the device, and increasing the lumen output of at least one emitter while simultaneously decreasing the lumen output of at least one other emitter, such that total color gamut increases while total lumen output of the light emitting device decreases. A light emitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Houser
  • Patent number: 11638340
    Abstract: A method of increasing the color gamut of a multi-emitter light emitting device when dimming includes the steps of independently driving each emitter in the device, and increasing the lumen output of at least one emitter while simultaneously decreasing the lumen output of at least one other emitter, such that total color gamut increases while total lumen output of the light emitting device decreases. A light emitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Kevin Houser
  • Publication number: 20210345461
    Abstract: A method of increasing the color gamut of a multi-emitter light emitting device when dimming includes the steps of independently driving each emitter in the device, and increasing the lumen output of at least one emitter while simultaneously decreasing the lumen output of at least one other emitter, such that total color gamut increases while total lumen output of the light emitting device decreases. A light emitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Kevin Houser
  • Patent number: 11064583
    Abstract: A method of increasing the color gamut of a multi-emitter light emitting device when dimming includes the steps of independently driving each emitter in the device, and increasing the lumen output of at least one emitter while simultaneously decreasing the lumen output of at least one other emitter, such that total color gamut increases while total lumen output of the light emitting device decreases. A light emitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Kevin Houser
  • Publication number: 20200383701
    Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar housing that defines a working chamber, and a cannula having opposing proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends. One or more windows are defined in the cannula at or near the distal end, and one or more compliant deflection devices are arranged at or near the distal end and at least partially receivable within the one or more windows. Each compliant deflection device includes a radial biasing member that extends radially inward toward a centerline of the cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Morgan, Jason Harris, Andrew Beckman, Robert Koch, JR., Joshua Young, Kevin Houser
  • Publication number: 20200383187
    Abstract: A method of increasing the color gamut of a multi-emitter light emitting device when dimming includes the steps of independently driving each emitter in the device, and increasing the lumen output of at least one emitter while simultaneously decreasing the lumen output of at least one other emitter, such that total color gamut increases while total lumen output of the light emitting device decreases. A light emitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin Houser
  • Patent number: 10849626
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes an elongate body, a clip revolver rotatably positioned within the body and providing an inner bore that defines a plurality of clip slots angularly spaced from each other about an inner surface of the inner bore, wherein a plurality of surgical clips are receivable within the plurality of clip slots in a nested helical array. First and second jaw members extend past a distal end of the body and aligned to receive a distal-most surgical clip of the plurality of surgical clips, wherein the clip revolver is rotatable to sequentially align each surgical clip with the first and second jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Jeffery Bruns, Matthew Kuhn, Justin Gasparovich, Alex Cuti, John Brady, Nicholas Courtwright, Alexa Miller, Caleb McGowen
  • Patent number: 10758269
    Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar housing that defines a working chamber, and a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends. The cannula is coupled to the trocar housing at the proximal end to facilitate communication between the lumen and the working chamber. A plurality of compliant deflection devices are provided at or near the distal end of the cannula, and each compliant deflection device includes a radial biasing member that extends radially inward toward a centerline of the cannula to center a surgical tool within the lumen and minimize unintended oscillation and vibration of the surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Morgan, Jason Harris, Andrew Beckman, Robert Koch, Jr., Joshua Young, Kevin Houser
  • Patent number: 10751087
    Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar housing that defines a working chamber, and a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends. The cannula is coupled to the trocar housing at the proximal end to facilitate communication between the lumen and the working chamber. A radial biasing device is arranged at or near the distal end of the cannula and includes an annular body coupled to the cannula and a compliant stabilizing member transitionable between a relaxed position and an extended position when acted upon by a surgical tool introduced into the lumen and passing through the compliant stabilizing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Morgan, Jason Harris, Andrew Beckman, Robert Koch, Jr., Steven Hall, Kevin Houser
  • Publication number: 20190247046
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes an elongate body, a clip revolver rotatably positioned within the body and providing an inner bore that defines a plurality of clip slots angularly spaced from each other about an inner surface of the inner bore, wherein a plurality of surgical clips are receivable within the plurality of clip slots in a nested helical array. First and second jaw members extend past a distal end of the body and aligned to receive a distal-most surgical clip of the plurality of surgical clips, wherein the clip revolver is rotatable to sequentially align each surgical clip with the first and second jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Jeffery Bruns, Matthew Kuhn, Justin Gasparovich, Alex Cuti, John Brady, Nicholas Courtwright, Alexa Miller, Caleb McGowen
  • Publication number: 20190099202
    Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar housing that defines a working chamber, and a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends. The cannula is coupled to the trocar housing at the proximal end to facilitate communication between the lumen and the working chamber. A plurality of compliant deflection devices are provided at or near the distal end of the cannula, and each compliant deflection device includes a radial biasing member that extends radially inward toward a centerline of the cannula to center a surgical tool within the lumen and minimize unintended oscillation and vibration of the surgical tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Morgan, Jason Harris, Andrew Beckman, Robert Koch, JR., Joshua Young, Kevin Houser
  • Publication number: 20190099201
    Abstract: A trocar assembly includes a trocar housing that defines a working chamber, and a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends. The cannula is coupled to the trocar housing at the proximal end to facilitate communication between the lumen and the working chamber. A radial biasing device is arranged at or near the distal end of the cannula and includes an annular body coupled to the cannula and a compliant stabilizing member transitionable between a relaxed position and an extended position when acted upon by a surgical tool introduced into the lumen and passing through the compliant stabilizing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Morgan, Jason Harris, Andrew Beckman, Robert Koch, JR., Steven Hall, Kevin Houser
  • Publication number: 20090131962
    Abstract: A first ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having first, second and third blade portions. The second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions. A second ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue. A third ultrasonic medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade includes a proximal blade portion having a centerline and includes a distal blade portion in contact with the proximal blade portion at a substantially planar interface. The interface is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the centerline at the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Shinichi Miyata, Atsunori Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20070239028
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonic end effector on the distal end of a shaft. The system further includes a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effector at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks. The system further includes a control unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic and positioning units, wherein the control unit is programmable with a surgical subroutine for performing the surgical tasks. The system further includes a user interface operatively connected to the control unit for initiating an operative cycle of the surgical subroutine such that the surgical tasks are automatically performed during the operative cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, William Donofrio, Foster Stulen
  • Publication number: 20070225608
    Abstract: A composite end effector for an ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided and includes a first portion formed from a first material that exhibits a first characteristic value when excited by an ultrasonic energy input and a second portion formed from a second material that exhibits a second characteristic value when excited by the ultrasonic energy input. The composite end effector exhibits a composite characteristic value different from the first and second characteristic values when excited by the ultrasonic energy input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Foster Stulen
  • Publication number: 20070191828
    Abstract: A method for medical treatment includes beginning coagulating patient tissue using an energy-based clamp coagulator, determining the clamping force, and measuring the acoustic impedance of the patient tissue. The method also includes compensating the measured acoustic impedance for clamp pressure and monitoring the coagulation using at least the compensated measured acoustic impedance. A first medical treatment system includes an energy-based clamp coagulator, an acoustic-impedance measurer, and a force measurer. A second system includes an energy-based clamp coagulator having a clamping member which includes, or is adapted to function as, an electrical-impedance-measuring electrode for measuring an electrical impedance of the clamped patient tissue. A third system includes an energy-based clamp coagulator having a clamping member which includes, or is adapted to function as, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the clamped patient tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Sarah Noschang, Jorge Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20070173871
    Abstract: A first ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having first, second and third blade portions. The second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions. A second ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue. A third ultrasonic medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade includes a proximal blade portion having a centerline and includes a distal blade portion in contact with the proximal blade portion at a substantially planar interface. The interface is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the centerline at the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Shinichi Miyata, Atsunori Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20070167965
    Abstract: A first ultrasonic medical instrument includes an ultrasound transducer, a medical ultrasonic blade, and a tube adapted to contain a liquid. A first tube end is adapted to have the liquid proximate the first tube end, when the tube contains the liquid, be ultrasonically vibrated to generate an ultrasonically-vibrating energy wave. The ultrasonic blade is acoustically connected to the liquid proximate a second tube end, when the tube contains the liquid. A second ultrasonic medical instrument includes a heat pulse initiator, a medical ultrasonic blade, and a tube adapted to contain a liquid. The heat pulse initiator is adapted to output heat pulses having an ultrasonic pulse frequency. A first tube end is adapted to receive the heat pulses outputted by the heat pulse initiator, wherein the heat pulses have an energy sufficient to create an ultrasonically-vibrating energy wave in the liquid, when the tube contains the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventor: Kevin Houser
  • Patent number: D586547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mark Tucker, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Houser, Seth Schwinger
  • Patent number: D659354
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventors: Seth Schwinger, Kevin Houser